The Hobbit: Unexpected Cruelty

When The Hobbit is released in India, audiences will see an adventure story set in a fantasy world. For the animals involved in the filming, however, the abuse and neglect that they experienced were far too real. Recently, PETA US gave the Associated Press the exclusive on the reported animal death toll. In all, five horses, a pony, and several goats, sheep, and chickens were allegedly maimed or killed.

According to whistleblowers from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the following occurred:

A horse named Shanghai was hobbled (his legs were tied together so that he couldn’t move) and left on the ground for three hours because he was too energetic for his rider. Afterward, in order to hide his rope burns for filming, his legs were covered with makeup and hair. Hobbling is an outright violation of the American Humane Association’s (AHA) guidelines.

One horse was killed and another horse was injured after being placed with two highly strung geldings, despite concerns that the geldings would be too aggressive.

Another horse was killed after falling off an embankment in a severely crowded paddock.

When the horses were moved to the stables, another horse died after being fed large amounts of food that he wasn’t used to. The horse had shown signs of colic, an extremely painful illness.

When the horses were moved back to the paddocks after this incident, another horse had the skin and muscles of her leg torn away by wire fencing.

Several goats and sheep died from worm infestations and from falling into the sink holes that covered the farm. * Numerous chickens were mauled and killed by unsupervised dogs or trampled by other animals when left unprotected.

How can something like this happen when the unit production manager was warned and the production was monitored by the American Humane Association? Furthermore, this movie was directed by Peter Jackson, a master at computer-generated imagery (CGI). In a movie that features CGI dragons, ogres, and hobbits, CGI animals would have fit in perfectly. Jackson could have made The Hobbit without using a single animal—and he should have.

Send a message to filmmakers that hurting and killing animals for a film is unacceptable and refuse to see movies that do. Urge Peter Jackson to hold himself and his crew responsible when it comes to animal safety on film sets. Use the button below to send him a message now!

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Azam Khan

commented on
03 Mar 2013 at 15:40 PM

I have seen live chicken being transported in open vehicles on highways from farms to cities. They are transported mostly during nights. They are exposed to high velocity wind, cold, dust, rain among other excesses they have to undergo during this tortuous transport. Please do something to put a stop to the touture these poor birds have to endure

Saw “Hobbit” yesterday and liked it wery much. Wanted to know more about the horses and found a lot of information of abuse. I am so very disappointed. I myself own an Icelandic horse. How difficult could it be to take care of the animals with a budget like yours. Now I won’t see the rest of the films.
Jeanette Johansson Alingsås Sverige

Braj Bhushan

commented on
21 Dec 2012 at 02:37 AM

There should be an committee member to keep an eye to check the cruelty during filming of movies

Abbyp

commented on
17 Dec 2012 at 22:36 PM

Oh, eff you guys. The Hobbit was an amazing movie.

Madhou

commented on
15 Dec 2012 at 10:24 AM

Killing innocent Animals for just a movie is unforgivable. May your movie be a big flop!
SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR TEAM

Anasua Roy

commented on
13 Dec 2012 at 12:22 PM

dey should be ashamed of killing so many lives for just a creation of movie.using animals for shooting of movies should be banned.

29

commented on
13 Dec 2012 at 11:31 AM

are you serious? just to film the movie, you killed several animals! the handling of the animals are simply too rough! I am very dissapointed with the production…

Shammi

commented on
13 Dec 2012 at 09:12 AM

Stop this cruel entertainment.

Laavanya Koushik

commented on
12 Dec 2012 at 02:25 AM

:'(

Priya Thevar

commented on
12 Dec 2012 at 01:25 AM

This is down right outrageous and a hideous crime on behalf of the film crew, They have no rights to abuse animals to make their film work. But after the truth being revealed i am sure no humane person would bother to watch this shame on screen. How do they sleep at night? God help them… The concern authorities have to take action against them, This should be put to an end NOW.

Bhaskar Chauhan

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 17:06 PM

why did no one from the film die?

Manreet

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 12:02 PM

plzzzzzzz stop being so cruel to animals….

Urmila Walke

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 09:09 AM

That was so cruel and inhuman.

Samhita

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 08:19 AM

It shows a clear case of negligence and disrespect to creatures created by god!!

Laurie Sippel

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 08:15 AM

Animal abuse for entertainment is just plain wrong. From now on all movies using live animals will be boycotted by my family.

Anamika Banerjee

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 07:46 AM

It’s unexpected cruelty…

CHAITALI LUTHRA

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 06:53 AM

Please respect the sanctity of life and DONOT harm any animals for your stupid filming!!!!

Pooja Shah

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 06:34 AM

hurting and killing animals for a film is unacceptable and we will boycott movies which do so.

Richa Singh

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 06:01 AM

I was really excited to watch ‘HOBBIT’…..
Not anymore.

Anil Chandolia

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 05:58 AM

Barbarian Filmmakers

Ankan Bose

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 05:15 AM

What the hell… What kind of a movie are you making? if you can’t take care of the animals on your set.. Then don’t expect us to watch your movies either.. Now be a man and take responsibility for your actions.

Jagdish Mittal

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 04:59 AM

Either animals may not be allowed or their welfare must be assured

Sanam

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 04:48 AM

SADD.. Please have a heart and stop hurting living things for ur pleasure

Ushma

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 04:29 AM

Animals are not your toys. They are as sensitive as us, human beings or even more. It’s disgraceful that it doesn’t even bother you n that too just for a movie. I’ll never watch this movie, even for free. You’ll are meant to convey a message & this is what you’ll have to convey. It is sad how it doesn’t matter & you’ll aren’t even ready to take responsibility for all the damage caused to the one’s who can’t even speak for themselves

MANISH MISHRA

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 04:25 AM

I strongly urge the concerned authorities to make stricter laws to prevent this kind of misuse of lovely animals

Dimpy

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 04:17 AM

The Hobbit: SHAME

Shweta Trivedi

commented on
11 Dec 2012 at 04:11 AM

Hurting and killing animals for a film is unacceptable and I refuse to see movies that do, including The Hobbit. Peter Jackson, please hold yourself and your crew responsible when it comes to animal safety on film sets.